“I want to go to town. Please, can we go? Please!”
Heaven wished she hadn’t suggested it, but once you let a horse out of a barn without a lead, it is hard to rein back inside. “We’ll leave after breakfast unless—” She paused. “Unless it starts raining hard.”
Angel jumped up and down with her hands clasped tight to the basket. Her blond hair floated like a cloud around her head while the eggs clacked against each other in the basket.
“Angel! The eggs!”
The spring went out of her legs. “I can’t wait! I’m going to eat really fast.” The small girl stepped out of the chicken coop, not waiting for her sister.
“Wait for me, Angel Claire. Remember, there is a hole in the path to the cabin. You don’t want to smash those eggs. They almost didn’t survive your excitement about going into town.”
Angel stopped. “Are you ever going to put the rope up so I can come out here by myself?”
Heaven’s body tensed. She had to let her sister do things for herself, she knew that, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t watch Angel’s every step.
“Do you think there will be enough to make me a jump rope, too?”
“There might be a piece left. I’ll string it later today. If it stops raining.”
“It’s a good day. I get a rope line, a jump rope, and we get to go to town!”
Heaven didn’t share her sister’s excitement. Too many things could go wrong. Still, she needed to go to Friendship, and if she went today, she wouldn’t have to think about making the trip again.
Unless Pa didn’t send for them soon.
Travis Logan passed another swamp where bald cypress trees stretched out the bottom of their trunks and dug in their roots to make their homes. He slowed his horse, Pride and Joy, to a gentle walk to cool him as he approached the town of Friendship, Tennessee. Early in the morning it drizzled, leaving the last leg of his journey damp and uncomfortable for both him and his horse. He was in search of Caleb Wharton’s place and knew he was close. Still, he considered it right smart to head into the general store for clearer directions before going any further, maybe even warm up a bit.
Friendship appeared to be a good-sized town. He passed a general store, post office, and livery stable. A man wouldn’t have to go far to get what he needed. Right in the middle of the main street sat a public well. With a quick pull on the reins, he halted his horse and dismounted. He looped the leather reins around the saddle horn. His boots squished in the muddy street as he led his companion to the water-filled troughs to drink. The town was quiet, only a few people on the sidewalks. He figured the earlier rain may have kept some folks home. A stagecoach pulled away from the hotel, its wheels sucking mud. The driver tipped his hat at Travis then flipped the reins to increase the speed of his team of horses.
While Pride and Joy drank his fill, Travis scratched the black’s neck and looked over the other half of town. There was a second general store doing business at the end of the street. If you couldn’t get what you needed at one place, you could probably get it at the other. Gathering the lead line in one hand, he walked the horse to the front of the Peacock & Co. General Store and then tethered him to the hitching post. He adjusted his black hat with a finger, raising the brim so he could see better.
Across the street, stood a boarding house with a sign swinging from a post in the yard, Miss EDNA’S PLACE OF REST. Sounded like a funeral parlor. Might be cheaper to stay a week there than at the hotel if he couldn’t move into Caleb’s place right away. He didn’t know if Caleb had left it vacant or hired a caretaker. He didn’t intend to show up unannounced and take over the farm. A person needed time to pack up his belongings and find another place to stay. Not too much time though. He wanted to get started making the place his own. His mare would be arriving in Dryersville next month.
The horse bumped his velvety muzzle against Travis’s shoulder. The blue eyes, signifying the horse was a true black, seemed to question him. Travis reached up and scratched Pride and Joy’s forehead. “Won’t be in there long, buddy.”
Three wide, worn wooden steps led to the covered sidewalk under the Peacock & Co. sign. Travis noted the toy wagon and kitchenware display in the front glass windows. He paused long enough to wonder if he’d ever have a wife and child to treat some Christmas. Maybe Friendship had a woman who would steal his heart the way his mother had stolen his father’s. He wanted a marriage like theirs, built on trust and companionship. It had taken him awhile, but now he knew Mary couldn’t be the one to give him that.
The wood and glass door yawned onto the porch, spilling out a blond-headed woman holding on to a younger girl’s hand. At that moment, the sunlight decided to break apart the clouds, and with its touch, turned the woman’s hair the color of gold and fire.
An older woman with a gray bonnet tied tightly around her plump chin blew through the door after them. “Now, don’t forget we’d like to see you in church on Sunday.”
“We’ll keep that in mind, Mrs. Reynolds.” The golden-haired beauty didn’t stop. It looked more as if she sped up her pace trying to get free of Mrs. Reynolds. “Don’t imagine with the winter weather we’ll make it too often.”
“We will look forward to seeing you when you do come.” Mrs. Reynolds turned back to enter the store and stopped the moment she spotted him. Her eyes leaped from his to the scar on his cheek.
He tipped his hat to her.
She offered a “Welcome to town, stranger,” smile and then stepped back into the store.
The rustle of the pretty woman’s skirt brought his attention back to her. Travis couldn’t remove his eyes from the two females. Was the golden-fire-haired one married? Since she wore black, she might be a widow. The younger one was most likely a sister, too old to be the woman’s child. Something didn’t seem right about the younger girl. The woman had a tight grasp on the child’s hand even though she was old enough to navigate the stairs on her own. He listened as she said “now” each time they stepped down.
Golden Fire Hair carried a woven basket on her arm, which she removed and placed in the younger girl’s hand. She untied the horse on the opposite side of the stairs where he’d tied Pride and Joy. It was a nice-looking gelding. He was appraising its value and mentally measuring how many hands the horse stood when he realized the woman had noticed him staring. He tipped his hat, “Howdy, ma’am. Nice horse you have there.”
Her face flushed, and her thank-you came out more like a warning growl.
“His name is Charlie,” the younger girl said.
“Shh. Don’t say anything.” The woman turned back to face him, despite the scowl she wore. He sensed the hedge of protection she placed around the child. “We must be going.”
He removed his hat and held it low, shielding his chest. “Be seein’ you.” He watched her help the child onto the horse, climb on behind her, and ride away before turning the knob and entering the store.
The warmth from the box stove sitting in the middle of the store sucked him in like a bug to a flame. The heat seeped through his damp overcoat into his skin and melted the tightness from his ride out of his shoulders and back.
He felt bad for Pride and Joy having ridden in the same cold rain. He’d order extra oats tonight if he stayed in town.
The quietness of the store settled on the back of his neck. Sure enough, he drew stares from the woman named Mrs. Reynolds and another woman holding a bolt of checked fabric. Their chatter halted as he walked past, and his hand went to the white line on his face. His scarred cheek gave him the appearance of a man with a reputation—one not well earned. He ignored the women. Walking past the barrel set up for a game of checkers, he headed straight for the counter. Once those in the store seemed to deem him no threat, several quiet conversations began behind him.
“Name’s Henry. Looks like you were caught in the rain this morning.”
“Travis Logan. Yes, it was a miserable ride.” “Haven’t seen you in here before. Are you here to stay or just passing thr
ough?” Henry stroked his graying black whiskers with his rough hand.
“I’m looking for directions to Caleb Wharton’s place.” He placed his hand on the glass counter next to a jar holding stick candy and wondered about the little girl he’d just seen. Did her sister buy her one of these for the trip home? He hoped so. As a kid, he’d liked the peppermint ones.
“What do you need with Caleb?” Henry stood straighter as he lowered his hands under the counter, a move Travis knew would make it easy to draw out a rifle in case of trouble.
He withdrew his hands from the counter and took a half step back. “Caleb’s passed on and left his farm to me. I thought I’d take a look to see if it will work as a place to raise horses.”
“Horses?” The clerk dragged the stool next to him closer and perched. “That right? What happened to Caleb?”
“Caught something that couldn’t be cured on the Mississippi.” “And he left you his place?” Henry smoothed his rough linen work apron at the chest with his hairy hand.
“Yes sir. Made me promise to come here. Said it was heaven and I’d love it.”
“Sounds like Caleb.” Henry tugged on his earlobe then spat in the spittoon behind the counter. “Well, ain’t that something. Heaven, huh? You’re not far, about a mile down the road you rode in on. There’s a broken wheel half buried on the corner of his land. The lane’s growed up a bit, but you can see it if you look for it. You’ll find the cabin around the bend.”
“I’ll need a few supplies. I imagine I’ll be back in town later for more, once I know what I need.”
“I’ll be glad to help you, but I imagine you won’t be needing much as there is a …” Henry coughed. “Caleb’s had someone looking after the place.” He reached in his apron pocket and withdrew a pad of paper. He set it on the counter and pulled a pencil from behind his ear, ready to take Travis’s order. “Caleb brought the missus and his family here in early spring. The place was in pretty good shape. It belonged to his wife’s uncle—odd old coot, he was. Surprised us when Caleb decided to head north to look for work, but he wasn’t quite the same after his wife died.”
“He didn’t say much about that. All he talked about was this place, so he might have changed his mind about working up north.” Tension that had been riding his shoulder blades left. This must be a sign that giving up doctoring was the right thing to do. He could use a break, and a homestead in good shape with milking cows, chickens, and a nice barn seemed to be in his future. “Then I guess I’ll just head out that way now, since it sounds like all I need is already there, just like Caleb said.” As Travis walked out the door, Henry laughed, and Travis thought he heard him say, “I hope he has a gun.”
Chapter 2
As they rode Charlie home, the warm noon sun stroked its fingers down Heaven’s back, rubbing away the angst Mrs. Reynolds had caused. The horse’s feet squished in the mud, making a sucking sound with each pull from the road. It wasn’t a long way back to the cabin, but it was slow-going with the muddy road. She didn’t want to rush Charlie and take a chance on him twisting his leg. She didn’t need a lame horse, or worse, one with a broken leg. Once back in Memphis, she had wanted to surprise her pa with a picture she’d drawn and instead ended up witnessing her pa put down a sick horse. Her stomach soured at the remembrance. No, slow and steady would be best.
The horse trod past the cotton-stubble-filled pasture. Disturbed by the noise, a flock of blackbirds took to the sky and veered to the south.
“Who was that man at the store?” Angel’s light voice added to the rhythm of the creaking leather of the saddle.
“I’ve never seen him before. That’s why I didn’t want you to talk to him. We don’t want anyone else knowing we’re out here alone.” Last month three men on horseback had stopped to see if she needed any help chopping wood. They didn’t want to help. They wanted her home and quite possibly her as well. She sent them back down the road with a few rounds from the shotgun and then prayed they wouldn’t return. So far they hadn’t been back, so she guessed they’d moved on. She probably should have mentioned it to Preacher Reynolds, but she didn’t want to be beholden to anyone. He would have made her and Angel move to town and live with them. That would have left their home unprotected. She couldn’t do that. She’d promised Pa she’d take care of the place and keep it nice so they could sell it.
Heaven’s disappointment in not receiving any news at the post office from her pa turned to worry. What if he was hurt and couldn’t get a letter to them? Or maybe he thought it unnecessary to let them know he arrived safely and was saving every penny so he could send for them. Her free hand went to the strand of hair hanging in front of her ear and began to twist the wayward lock.
Or had something even more awful happened to him? Her lungs shriveled, and she found it difficult to breathe. She knew these were the times that were supposed to bring her closer to God, but mostly she wanted to yell at Him for the way things were turning out in her life.
“Heaven, are you twisting your hair?” Angel tipped her head back onto her sister’s chest, smashing her mother’s lorgnette into her skin.
She dropped the strand of hair from her fingers and moved the small magnifying glass. “Why?”
“’Cause Ma always said you twist your hair when you’re worried. I think you’re worrying about Pa. Are you?”
Her sister’s perception of things unseen had grown in the last month.
“I’m not twisting it right now.” She wasn’t since she’d let it drop the second Angel mentioned her habit. She couldn’t have Angel’s brain sizzling with worry, too. “Pa is fine. I’m sure of it.” She wasn’t positive about that either, but she didn’t need Angel thinking about what might be wrong. “Besides, we’re doing fine without him.” She wasn’t so sure of that either, since there wasn’t anything but that small amount of salted meat left. But eleven-year-old Angel didn’t need to be thinking about where the next meal was coming from.
“I miss his stories.”
“I’ll read to you tonight, or maybe we can make up a story together. We could try and piece a few of Pa’s together and make a new one.” Truth be told, even if she was too old for Pa’s stories, she never tired of hearing him spin one.
“It won’t be as good as sitting next to Pa while he tells it.”
“I can’t do anything about that, Angel. You will have to make do with me until he sends for us.” Angel’s back went board hard against Heaven’s chest. Yes, she could try and protect her sister from as much as she could, but some things could only be fixed by a father.
From the movement of the leather strips, Angel could picture Charlie’s powerful neck bobbing as he walked. She relaxed against her sister’s chest, holding the reins. She knew she was only allowed to hold them because he knew the way home. Heaven wouldn’t have let her take them otherwise. No one would ever have to lead Charlie back to the barn where he knew he’d be fed when he arrived. If anything, he had to be held back from running the entire way.
She had to find some way to make Heaven let her do things. The only thing she couldn’t do was see, but Heaven kept her in the cabin like she was a drooling idiot not fit for public gatherings. “Mrs. Reynolds said we should come back to church soon.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Mrs. Reynolds said they are having a Sunday school Christmas play, and there is still time for me to be a part of it, but I need to go to Sunday school.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Mrs. Reynolds said …”
“I know. Angel, I was right there with you.” Heaven’s voice had that stone-sharp edge to it that Angel recognized as warning her that she had almost gone too far. Her ma had that same tone. She guessed that was where Heaven learned to use it.
“I know.” She would have to approach this problem another way, because she wanted to be an angel in the play. After all, it was her name, so she should have the part. “Don’t you miss seeing other people, Heaven? If we went to church more often, we could make new friends.”<
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Heaven didn’t say anything for so long, Angel thought she might have fallen asleep, which meant she drove the horse by herself. She lifted Charlie’s reins higher. Her heart expanded with excitement then deflated when she felt her sister stir behind her.
“I miss my best friend, Annabelle, very much,” Heaven finally replied. Heaven didn’t know it, but Angel saw her sister’s words as teardrops.
Angel missed her school friends in Nashville, too. They didn’t even know she was blind and didn’t have to go to school anymore. Wouldn’t they be surprised to know that she missed learning, too? Right now she’d even be happy to see Fred Thompson, and she didn’t like him, not since he tied her braids together last fall.
Friendship didn’t even have a school. How would she ever make any friends if Heaven didn’t take her to church?
The fire crackled in the fireplace, sucking the dampness of the day out the chimney with its smoke. Heaven gently rocked in the old blue rocking chair they’d brought with them from Nashville. The chair had sat on the back porch for as long as Heaven could remember. She and Annabelle often climbed in it together when they were small and munched lemon drop cookies the cook gave them.
Did Annabelle like being married? The wedding was set for last June, and Heaven was sick about not being able to be there, even if she didn’t much care for the man her friend was marrying. Had they moved in with Annabelle’s father, or were they able to move into a place of their own? Annabelle might even be with child by now. Heaven hoped for the best for her friend but wished she and her childhood friend could climb in the bed and have a night of talking like they did before Heaven’s family moved.
The last few golden moments of sunlight slipped through the windowpanes and cast the cabin in a cheery glow. She needed to stop soon if she wanted to get to the barn and feed Charlie and the other animals before dark. She liked this part of the day, putting the animals to bed. Even that tiresome goat, Mr. Jackson, was worn out by then and would leave her skirt alone.
Bride's Dilemma in Friendship, Tennessee Page 2